Gas lighter control unit



Sept. 25, 1956 Filed March 26, 1951 9 2 6 2 k s r 1 35 23 m. 7 O 4 5 895 PTM 3 an 9 47 5 3 r FIG.

3nventor FRANCIS Eli-HUBER (Tirol-neg GAS LIGHTER CONTROL UNIT FrancisE. Gruber, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Brown & Bigelow, dt. Paul, Minn,a corporation of Minnesota Application March 26, 1951, Serial No.217,480

3 Claims. (CI. 67-71) This invention relates to a removable reducingvalve and shut-off valve unit for wickless lighters which employcompressed liquid fuel and wherein apressure retarding valve is requiredto permit the gas to escape from the cartridge or chamber of thelighter, which holds the supply of compressed liquid fuel.

A feature resides in providing a retarding valve for a gas lighterwherein no wick is used and where the flow of gas from the supplycartridge or chamber must be regulated to give a predetermined flame orto regulate the size of the flame by the reducing valve so as to providevirtually a constant size flame when the shut-off valve of the lighteris opened and the gas is ignited.

A further feature of the lighter resides in the form of a reducing valvewhich is employed to retard the flow of gas from the gas cartridge. Thisvalve includes a porous pellet made of zinc oxide powder which iscompressed under a predetermined pressure to provide the desired sizeand density to the pellet. Heavy filter discs are positioned on eitherside of the pellet in operative position and a cord-like member is heldin contact with the lower filter disc to provide a means of keeping thefilter discs and pellet moist with the liquid fuel from the cartridge orfuel chamber with a Wet pellet at all times, the liquefied fuel gasifiesat the nozzle, when the valve is open, at a faster rate than if the gaspassed through and issued from a dry pellet in travelling from theinside of the gas chamber to the outer atmosphere. If there is anyappreciable lag between the production of the spark of the lighter andthe issuance of a sufficient supply of gas from the nozzle in aregulated amount, the lighter, of course, will not work. Withtheconstruction herein set forth, the issuance of gas from the nozzle ofthe lighter is at a faster rate than heretofore accomplished, thus doingaway with any appreciable lag which prevents ignition of the gas by the.pyrophoric spark means of the lighter. With the gas issuing from thenozzle at a rapid rate, a flame will be kindled even though the sparkproduced is a weak one. The cord member may be held in contact with thelower filter disc by a cork or any other suitable means.

The pressure reducing valve unit is held in a sleeve in a position to beremoved by loosening the nut which holds the reducing valve unit in thesleeve.

A shutoff valve is also supported in the sleeve of the reducing valveunit and is formed with a valve head which carries a rubber gasketclosure member which nite States Patent is adapted to close the smallaxial passageway leading 2,764,008 Patented Sept. 25, 1956 pressed fuelsuch as iso-butane and which must be emitted from the lighter through ahollow nozzle or passageway in the form of a gas so that the liquid fuelwill not squirt out of the lighter and so that a controlled flame isprovided. This is accomplished by the method of forming a pellet valvebody from zinc oxide powder (dry process). The powder is compressed intoa small pellet of a predetermined density, which controls the height ofthe flame by the gas which is emitted from one side of the pellet. Theother side of the pellet normally is moist with the liquid fuel. Themethod further includes forming a valve body of zinc oxide powder orsimilar material to the desired density and placing the pellet betweentwo filter discs, which may be of paper or other suitable material, andproviding a cord-like member having an absorbent nature so as to carrythe liquid fuel by capillary attraction to the filter discs and pellet.

In carrying out my method, the valve formed as described above has thepropertyof permitting the liquid fuel to boil oif in the form of a gasfrom the pellet valve and passing out to the outer atmosphere where thegas is ignited as it mixes with the outer atmosphere by means of apyrophoric element such as is used for lighters of this character.

The various features and details of the removable reducing valve andshut-off valve unit will be clearly and fully defined throughout thespecification and claims.

Figure 1 is a section through a portion of a lighter in side elevationwherein the removable reducing valve unit is employed.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the reducing valve unit andshowing the same removed from the fuel chamber of the lighter.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 2..

The lighter A, as illustrated in part, shows the position of theremovable reducing valve unit D in relation to the fuel chamber C. Thecomplete lighter A is illustrated in a co-pending case which 'is beingfiled at the same time as this application.

The lighter A employs apyrophoric flint 26 which is operated by theflint wheel 32 to throw a spark over the open end of the nozzle 39 whenthe operating lever 27 of the lighter A is depressed.

The operation of the lever 27 causes the roll or ball clutch 37 toengage against the teeth of the flint wheel and rotate the wheel toabrade the flint 26.

t The nozzle 39 of the unit D is normally covered by the hood 30 whenthe lighter is not in use. When the lever 27 is depressed, the hood 30is elevated which in turn operates the clutch 37 to operate the flintwheel 32.

The unit D includes the removable reducing valve supported in the lowerend of the sleeve 45' and which consists of a porous pellet 47 made upof zinc oxide powder which is compressed to a predetermined pressure toform to carry the liquid to the disc 48 and the pellet 47 to keep thesame moist with liquid fuel when the shut-off valve is closed and topermit evaporation of the liquid fuel off of the top filter disc andpermit the fuel in gas form to pass out through the small axial opening51 in the sleeve 45 when the shut-off valve is opened.

The shut-off valve 53 carries a rubber gasket 52 which normally closesthe opening 51 when the stem 54 of the valve bears against theprojection 55 in the hood 30 when the hood is closed (as illustrated inFigure When the hood 30 is lifted by depressing the lever 27, thepressure of the gas in the chamber C will lift the valve 53 owing to theraising of the hood 30. This permits the gas to escape through thepellet 47 and the reducing valve filters 48 and past the cord member asout through'the axial passage 51 around the shut-ni valve 53, past thestem 54 and out the nozzle 39. When the hood 30 is "in closed position,the tension of the spring 29 on the lever 27 is transmitted through thehood 30 to the stem 54 so that the stem 54 is in reality under springtension to hold the valve 53 closed when the hard 30 is closed.Simultaneously with the lifting of the hood 30 and the escaping of thegas but of the nozzle 39, the pyrophoric flight 26 will throw a sparkover the nozzle 39 and ignite the escaping gas. Thus a flame ofpredetermined height will burn from the nozzle 3) as long as the lever27 is depressed and the hood 39 is elevated. The moment the hood 30 islowered, it will strike the stem 54 and close the passageway 51 shuttingotl? the gas fuel from escaping out of the nozzle 39.

The unit valve D is of primary importance because it provides a pressurereducing valve which is combined with a shut-off valve in the sleeve 45and the unit is easily removable for replacement or repair by looseningthe nut '43, which normally holds the sleeve 45 in operative positionand seals the sameagainst leakage around the sleeve by the ring gasket44. The operation of the pressure reducing means in unit D to preventliquid fuel from squirting out through the opening 51 and around thevalve stem 54 is unique in that it provides a pressure reducing meanswhich controls the flow of gas out of the nozzle 39. This isaccomplished by maintaining the elements of the reducing valve, namelythe pellet 47 and the heavy filter discs 48, moist with liquid fuel aslong as the cartridge C contains any liquid fuel. The liquid fuel iscarried by the cord member 50 to the lower disc 48 and by capillaryattraction the pellet 47 is moistened, and even the top filter disc 48becomes moist as long as the valve 53 is closed.

When the valve 53 opens, the liquid fuel collected on the elements 47and 48 tends to evaporate through the opening 53 and out of the nozzle39 whereupon the cord member 50 feeds more liquid fuel to the porouspellet 47, and as the same passes through the pellet and the filterdiscs 48, the liquid fuel is reduced to a gas which is ignited by thepyrophoric element 26. In this manner the pressure reducing processtakes place permitting the liquid fuel to turn into gas as it escapesthrough the small opening 51.

The density of the pellet member 47 acts to control the flow of gas fromthe chamber C, and the filter discs 48 also assist in retarding the flowof gas from the storage chamber and prevent the liquid fuel from passingout through the nozzle 39. Further, the cord acts to keep the members 47and 48 moist with liquid fuel so that the amount the valve 53 is opened,gas starts to escape out of the nozzle 39 where it mixes with the outeratmosphere and is easily combustible into a flame when the pyrophoricelement throws the sparks into the flow of gas. Also by this means I amable to control and regulate the height of the flame, which is veryimportant in a lighter of this character. In fact, I am able to secure aconstant flame by means of the pressure reducing elements in the unit D,as heretofore set forth. It is also an advantage top'rovide a whole unitD which is readily "remo'valble, and in this manner the lighter A may bequickly assembled or repaired when it is necessary.

The method of forming the pellet 47 is important in the successfuloperation of the lighter A, and while I have stated that the pellet isformed of zinc oxide powder (dry process) analytical reagent, compressedunder a controlled pressure to provide the proper density to the body ofthe pellet, it is apparent that other material may housed and the degreeof compression may be varied in the forming'of'the body of the' pellet,which acts as the valve body for the valve assembly D. The methodincludes the positioning of the pellet 47 between the filter discs 48,which may be of any suitable material, and providing the liquidabsorbing cord 50' held by the retainer 49 so that it contacts the lowerdisc 48. This provides a means of keeping the members of the reducingvalve moist as long as there is liquid fuel in the lighter.

In operation, when the lighter A is opened by pressure on the lever 27,the shut-off valve 53 is opened and the moment the wet pressure reducingvalve, consisting of the pellet 4'7 and the discs 48 is opened to theouter atmosphere through the small passageway 51, the liquid fuel willboil oil of these members 47 and 48 and will pass out through the nozzleof the lighter in the form of a gas. However, the liquid fuel will notbe permitted to squirt out of the nozzle, which might give a dangerousflame if this took place in the lighter A. Therefore, the method offorming the pressure reducing valve and positioning it in the sleeve orthimble-like holder is important. As the liquid fuel is evaporated orboiled off or one side of the reducing valve members '47 and 48, thecord 50 will feed a sulficient amount of liquidfuel to these members,and the liquid fuel will evaporate therefrom in a controlled manner,which is accomplished by my method of forming the pressure reducingvalve unit D, and in this manner I have accomplished a very desirablemeans of providing the proper size and controlled flame.

The sleeve 40 is welded at 41 to the upper ring portion 15. The threadednut 43 engages with the threads of the sleeve '40 and draws the top rimof the sleeve 45 down upon the gasket 44-against the upper edge of thesleeve 40. A seal is thus maintained between the valve unit and the ringportion 15, and because of this construction the valve D may be easilyinserted and removed.

I claim:

1. A removable reducing and shut-off valve unit for a gas lighteradapted to use'a compressed liquid fuel wherein no wick is used for theflame, including a sleeve, pressure reducing means positioned in thelower end of said sleeve and comprising a porous pellet formed of ametal oxide powder said pellet interposed between paper filter discs, amoistening cord secured in the lower end of said sleeve and contactingsaid lower filter discs to carry the liquid fuel to said pressurereducing elements and keep the same normally moist with liquid fuel, anaxial gas passageway leading from said reducing elements, a shutan valvehaving a soft sealing gasket for normally closing said gas opening, anozzle secured in said sleeve, a valve stem projecting from saidshut-01f valve and extending through said nozzle out of which gasescapes when said valve is open and when pressure is relieved from theouter end of said valve stem.

2. A removable reducing valve and shut-off valve unit adapted to be usedto control the flow of gas from the reservoir of a lighter whereinliquid fuel is stored, including a removable sleeve support, a nut forholding said sleeve in operative position, a hollow nozzle positioned inthe upper end of said sleeve, a shut-0E valve having a'v'alve stemextending through said nozzle and projecting therefrom and adapted to becontacted by the hood of the lighter to normally hold said valve closed,a small gas passageway below said valve, and pressure reducing elementspositioned in the lower end of said removable sleeve including a porousmetallic pellet, filter discs, and a liquid conducting member held incontact with the lower of said discs and adapted to extend into theliquid gas chamber of the lighter to cause said pressure a reducingelements to be moistened by liquid fuel.

3. The combination with a wickless lighter which is adapted'to use acompressed liquid fuel and having a pyrophoric lighter means and hood toclose the lighter, a shutoff valve having a valve stem adapted to beengaged to hold said shut-off valve closed under spring tension bycontact with said hood, :1 pressure reducing means positioned belowsaidshut-otf valve, a passageway connecting said pressure reducing meanswith said shut-off valve to permit gas to escape therethrough from saidpressure reduc ing means when said shut-01f valve is opened, saidpressure reducing means comprising filter disc means, porous pelletmeans mounted between said filter disc means and a feeder cord incontact with said disc means for feeding liquid fuel to said pressurereducing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6Reich Apr. 4, 1939 Egger Oct. 25, 1949 Quercia et al. July 18, 1950Metzler et a1. May 8, 1951 Morgan et a1. Aug. 16, 1952 Nissen Dec. 9,1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Norway Apr. 11, 1938 Austria Sept. 11, 1939 AustriaNov. 25, 1939 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1948

